The question is, whether all this
is to be allowed to appear on evidence, or whether it is to be
established, as it easily may, if we give our minds to it, that he is not
the Sunchild."
"Whatever else he is," said Hanky, "he must not be the Sunchild. He
must, if the charge of poaching cannot be dropped, be a poacher and a
foreign devil. I was doubtless too hasty when I said that I believed I
recognized the man as one who had more than once declared himself to be
the Sunchild--"
"But, Hanky," interrupted Panky, "are you sure that you can swear to this
man's being the man we met on Thursday night? We only saw him by
firelight, and I doubt whether I should feel justified in swearing to
him."
"Well, well: on second thoughts I am not sure, Panky, but what you may be
right after all; it is possible that he may be what I said he was in my
sermon."
"I rejoice to hear you say so," said George, "for in this case the charge
of poaching will fall through. There will be no evidence against the
prisoner. And I rejoice also to think that I shall have nothing to
warrant me in believing him to be a foreign devil. For if he is not to
be the Sunchild, and not to be your poacher, he becomes a mere
monomaniac. If he apologises for having made a disturbance in the
temple, and promises not to offend again, a fine, and a few days'
imprisonment, will meet the case, and he may be discharged.
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